Go to Oktoberfest!

Everyone who likes beer at all should probably go Oktoberfest in Munich at some point in their life. And, when you study abroad in Vienna, it's pretty easy to do so. While I didn't attend this year, I went last year and several of the students in our group went this year.

You can catch an early morning train out of Vienna, show up in Munich at about 11 AM, hang out at the festival all day, and then either spend the night or catch a late train back to Vienna.

Oktoberfest is one of the only things in that I have experienced that lives up to the hype. It is a ton of fun to sing German folk songs to a live band, drink really good beer, eat a pretzel that is literally bigger than your face, and meet people from around the world.

This year's group did something kind of unique and bought costumes. They went to thrift stores and bought Austrian/German style clothing. It was very fun to see them all dressed up.

You should definitely go to Oktoberfest. But, if you do, there are ground rules...

However, please follow Kevin's Top 10 Rules to Oktoberfest Happiness. Seriously, they are words to live by:

Kevin's Top 10 Oktoberfest Keys to Happiness

10. Embrace bavaria, lederhosen and all.
9. Avoid the Curry Wurst - no seriously - nothing good ever came of the mixture of beer and Curry Wurst.
8. Just say no to Candied Almonds - you'll thank me later
7. Roller coasters should be ridden upon arrival or not all - again nothing good ever came of the mixture of beer and roller coasters.
6. The beer maids will never cut you off - they will call the Polizei to haul your ass away long before they stop serving you.
5. Learn the songs and sing along - nothing like it in the world.
4. Bring cash - Bavarians don't drink beer on credit.
3. Just say yes to the very very large yummy pretzels. Consume with abandon.
2. Those really are ONE LITER beers... Those really are ONE LITER beers...
1. No more than ONE LITER an hour if you are over 150 pounds and ONE LITER every TWO hours if you are less than 150 pounds. Think of it like the beer version of a speed limit.